List of Indian timber trees

There are over 150 species of timber which are produced in India. Following are the chief varieties of timber (trees)which are used for engineering purposes in India:

Common Binomial
Colour Density Location Characteristics, Usage and Status
name nomenclature
Maharashtra, Andhra Elastic, close-grained, and strong. It takes polish. It can be used underwater. It is
Aini or Artocarpus Yellowish
595 kg/m3 1,003 lb/cu yd Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, used for ordinary building construction, structural work, paving, furniture and so
Aangili hirsutus brown
Karnataka, Kerala forth.
Terminalia
arjuna Dark
Arjun 870 kg/m3 1,470 lb/cu yd Central India It is heavy and strong. It has such uses as beams, rafters, and posts.
Terminalia brown[1]
elliptica

Andhra Pradesh, Tamil

Anogeissus Nadu, Maharashtra,
Axlewood 930 kg/m3 1,570 lb/cu yd It is very strong, hard and tough. It takes a smooth finish. It is subject to cracking.
latifolia Madhya Pradesh, Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh

Rajasthan, Andhra
Pradesh, Maharashtra, It is strong, hard and tough and it takes up a good polish. It is used for such
Acacia nilotica Whitish
Babul 835 kg/m3 1,407 lb/cu yd Madhya Pradesh, Tamil products as bodies and wheels of bullock cart, agricultural instruments, tool
subsp. indica red
Nadu, Karnataka, Bengal, handles, and well curbs.
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh

Mimusops
elengi Reddish
Bakul 880 kg/m3 1,480 lb/cu yd Some parts of North India It is close-grained and tough. It is used for making cabinets.
Mimusops brown
[2]
parvifolia

Family Throughout India,

Not actually a tree, but a woody grass, it is flexible, very strong and durable. It is
Bamboo Poaceae, tribe especially Assam and
used for scaffoldings, thatched roofs, rafters, temporary bridges, and so forth.
Bambuseae Bengal

Ficus It is strong and durable only under water. The aerial roots are utilized for such
Banyan Brown 580 kg/m3 980 lb/cu yd Throughout India
benghalensis items as tent poles and well curbs.

Lagerstoemia 3 Kerala, Madras, It is strong and takes up a smooth surface. It may be used for building
Benteak 675 kg/m 1,138 lb/cu yd
parviflora Maharashtra, Karnataka constructions, boat building and furniture.

Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya It is coarse-grained, durable and strong but difficult to work. Termites (also known
Pterocarpus Light
Bijasal 800 kg/m3 1,300 lb/cu yd Pradesh, Maharashtra, as white ant) do not easily attack it. It is used for ordinary building construction
marsupium brown
Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and for cart wheels. Vulnerable[3]
Tamil Nadu, Orissa

Casuarina Reddish Andhra Pradesh, Tamil It grows straight. It is strong and fibrous. It is, however, badly twisted. It is often
Casuarina 765 kg/m3 1,289 lb/cu yd
spp. brown Nadu used for scaffolding and posts for temporary structures.

Cocos Reddish Takes polish. Requires preservative treatment. Used as poles, piles, furniture and
Coconut Throughout coastal India
nucifera brown as formwork in concrete construction.

Deodar is the most important timber tree providing soft wood. It can be easily
Cedrus Yellowish 3 Himalayas, Punjab, Uttar worked and it is moderately strong. It possesses distinct annual rings. It is used
Deodar 560 kg/m 940 lb/cu yd
deodara brown Pradesh for making cheap furniture, railway carriages, railway sleepers, packing boxes,
structural work and so forth.
It can be easily worked and is strong and durable especially when used under
Gmelina Pale
Gambar 580 kg/m3 980 lb/cu yd Central India, South India water. It is used for such products as furniture, carriage, well curbs, yokes, and
arborea yellow
door panels.

Hopea is extremely strong and tough. It is difficult to work. However, it can be

Light to
Hopea seasoned easily and it is durable and not likely to be damaged by white ants. It
Hopea deep 1,010 kg/m3 1,700 lb/cu yd Madras, Kerala
parviflora has been variously used for ordinary house construction, railway sleepers, piles,
brown
and boat building. Endangered[4]
Himalayan
Ulmus It is moderately hard and strong. It is used for door and window frames, carts, and
Elm, Indian Red 960 kg/m3 1,620 lb/cu yd Throughout India
wallichiana so forth.
Elm

Ironwood,
Penaga
Ironwood is durable though it is very hard and is not easily worked. It even resists
Lilin, Reddish 960
Mesua ferrea [5] 3
1,6201,790 lb/cu yd [6] penetration of nails. It is used for ordinary house construction, bridges, piles,
Bosneak, brown 1,060 kg/m
agricultural instruments, railway wagons, and railway sleepers.
Gangaw,
Mesua

Karnataka, Kerala,
It is very hard, heavy and durable. Difficult to work, it also requires slow and
Irul, Xylia 830 Andhra Pradesh,
1,4001,790 lb/cu yd [7] careful seasoning. It is used for railway sleepers, agricultural instruments, paving
Pyinkado xylocarpa 1,060 kg/m3 Maharashtra, Orissa,
blocks, and heavy construction. Least concern [8]
Tamil Nadu

It is compact and even grained. It is moderately strong and easy to work. It takes
Yellow,
Mangifera 3 Karnataka, Maharashtra, a good finish and maintains its shape well. It has many uses including plain
Jack darkens 595 kg/m 1,003 lb/cu yd
caesia. Tamil Nadu, Kerala furniture, boat construction, well curbs, door panels, cabinet making and musical
with age
 with age
instruments.
Light
Lagerstroemia Assam, Bengal, Hard and durable, it can be easily worked. It takes a good finish and is used for
Jarul reddish 640 kg/m3 1,080 lb/cu yd
flos-reginae Maharashtra house construction, boat building, railway carriages, cart making and scaffolding.
gray

Kathal, Yellow to Karnataka, Andhra It is heavy and hard. It is durable under water and in damp conditions, however, it
Artocarpus
Keledang,[9] deep 800 kg/m3 1,300 lb/cu yd[9] Pradesh, Kerala, cracks if exposed to direct sun. White ants do not attack it. It is used for piles,
heterophyllus
Jackfruit brown Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu platforms of wooden bridges, door and window panels.

Karnataka, Andhra
It is strong, hard and tough. It is subject to cracking and attack by dry rot. White
Lauraceae, Dark Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa,
Lauraceae 880 kg/m3 1,480 lb/cu yd ants do not attack it. It takes a smooth finish. It is used for such purposes as
Saj brown[10] Madhya Pradesh, Kerala,
house construction, boat construction, railway sleepers and structural work.
Tamil Nadu

Reddish It takes a good polish and is easily worked. It is durable under water. It is most
Mahogany Swietenia spp. 720 kg/m3 1,210 lb/cu yd
brown commonly used for furniture, pattern making and cabinet work.

The mango tree is well known for its fruits. It is easy to work and it maintains its
Deep 560
Mango Mangifera spp 9401,210 lb/cu yd[11] Throughout India shape well. It is moderately strong. It is most often used for cheap furniture, toys,
gray 720 kg/m3
packing boxes, cabinet work, panels for doors and for windows.

It is strong, tough and elastic. It takes up a clean finish. It can be well seasoned. It
Mulberry Morus spp. Brown 650 kg/m3 1,100 lb/cu yd Punjab is turned and carved easily. Mulberry is typically used for baskets and sports
goods like hockey sticks, tennis rackets and cricket bats .
Yellowish Oak is strong and durable, with straight silvery grain. It is used for preparing
Oak Quercus spp. 865 kg/m3 1,458 lb/cu yd
brown sporting goods.

It contains ripe wood in the outer crust. The colour of this ripened wood is dark
Dark
Palm Arecaceae 1,040 kg/m3 1,750 lb/cu yd Throughout India brown. It is strong, durable and fibrous. Palm is used for furniture, roof covering,
brown
rafters and joists.

Pine wood is hard and tough except white pine which is soft. It decays easily if it
comes into contact with soil. It is heavy and coarse grained. It is used for pattern
Pine Pinus spp.
making, frames for doors and windows, and for paving material. White pine is light
and straight grained and is used in the manufacture of matches.

Red cedar Red[1] 480 kg/m3 810 lb/cu yd Assam, Nagpur It is soft and even grained. It is used for furniture, door panels and well curbs.

Kerala, Karnataka, It is strong, tough and close-grained. It is a handsome wood that takes up a high
Dalbergia Maharashtra, Madhya polish. It maintains its shape well and is available in large sizes. It is used for
Rosewood Dark[1] 850 kg/m3 1,430 lb/cu yd[12]
latifolia Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, furniture of superior quality, cabinet work, ornamental carvings and so forth.
Orrissa Vulnerable[13]

Karnataka, Andhra
It is hard, fibrous and close-grained. It does not take up a good polish. It requires
Shorea 880 Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Sal Brown[1] 1,4801,770 lb/cu yd [14] slow and careful seasoning. It is durable under ground and water. It is used for
robusta 1,050 kg/m3 Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
railway sleepers, shipbuilding, and bridges.
Madhya Pradesh, Orissa

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,

White or It has a pleasant smell. It is commonly used for agricultural instruments, well
Sandalwood Santalum spp. 930 kg/m3 1,570 lb/cu yd Kerala, Assam, Nagpur,
Red curbs, wheels, and mallets. Vulnerable[15]
Bengal

Chloroxylon Central and Southern It is very hard and durable. It is close grained. It is used for furniture and other
Satinwood Yellow[16] 960 kg/m3 1,620 lb/cu yd
swietenia India ornamental works. Vulnerable[17]

It is a loose grained, inferior quality wood. Light in weight, it is used for packing
Simul Bombax spp. White 450 kg/m3 760 lb/cu yd All over India
cases, the match industry, well curbs, and for cheap furniture.

Dark Hard and durable, Siris wood is difficult to work. It is used for well curbs in salty
Siris Albizia spp. North India
brown water, beams, posts, and furniture.

Also known as shisham or tali, this wood is strong and tough. It is durable and
Mysore, Maharashtra, handsome and it maintains its shape well. It can be easily seasoned. It is difficult
Dalbergia Yellowish
Sissoo 770 kg/m3 1,300 lb/cu yd Assam, Bengal, Uttar to work but it takes a fine polish. It is used for high quality furniture, plywoods,
sissoo white
Pradesh, Orissa bridge piles, sport goods, railway sleepers and so forth. It is a very good material
for decorative works and carvings.

Spruce wood resists decay and is not affected by the attack of marine borers. It is
Spruce Picea spp. 480 kg/m3 810 lb/cu yd however liable to shrink, twist and warp. It is used for piles under water and
(formerly) for aeroplane construction.

It is hard and tough. It is difficult to season and work. It is elastic and close
Heritiera
Sundri Dark red 960 kg/m3 1,620 lb/cu yd Bengal grained. It is strong and durable. These qualities make it suited for such uses as
fomes
boat building, piles, poles, tool handles, and carriage shafts.

Tamarind is knotty and durable. It is a beautiful tree for avenue and gardens. Its
Tamarindus Dark 3 [citation needed] development is very slow but it ultimately forms a massive appearance. Its fruit is
Tamarind 1,300 kg/m 2,200 lb/cu yd All over India
indica brown also very useful. It is used for agricultural instruments, well curbs, sugar mills,
carts and brick burning.
Deep Moderately hard, teak is durable and fire-resistant. It can be easily seasoned and
Tectona yellow to Central India and worked. It takes up a good polish and is not attacked by white ants and dry rot. It
Teak 639 kg/m3 1,077 lb/cu yd[19]
grandis dark Southern India does not corrode iron fastenings and it shrinks little. It is among the most valuable
brown[18] timber trees of the world and its use is limited to superior work only.

Reddish
Toon, Red It can be easily worked. It is light in weight. It is used for such products as
Toona ciliata brown or 450 kg/m3 760 lb/cu yd[20] Assam
Cedar[20] furniture, packing boxes, cabinet making and door panels.
dull red [1]

After seasoning at 12% moisture content

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Indian Mangrove
Caucasian Maple

Himalayan Maple

Singkrang

Lobed-leaf Alangium

Sage Leaved Alangium

Wild Mango

Netted Custard Apple

Sugar Apple

Mango

Kakkar

Brazilian Pepper

Cashew

Chironji Tree

Indian Ash Tree

Ylang Ylang

Ashok

Batino

Crape Jasmine

Mexican Oleander

Woolly Dyeing Rosebay

Frangipani pink

Frangipani red

Nag Kudagr

Madagascar Palm

White Frangipani

Common White Frangipani

Devil Tree

Sea Mango

Indrajao

Peacock Chaste Tree

Chaste Tree

Tree of Life

Asian Bushbeech

Parrot's Beak

Teak

West Indian Elm

East-Indian Screw Tree

Looking Glass Mangrove

Bothi

Scarlet Sterculia

Pale Sterculia

Buddha Coconut

Java Olive

Spotted Sterculia

Large Leaf Looking Glass Tree

Guest Tree

Kanak Champa

Fiddlewood

Arni

Gamhar

Wild Tamarind

Moulmein Rosewood

Pongam Tree
 Pongam Tree

Badminton Ball Tree

See also

Flora of the Indian epic period

Flora of Madhya Pradesh

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education

References

1. ^ a bc de Wood Carving Industries Private Limited : About Us

2. ^ Mimusops elengi

3. ^ 2007 IUCN Red List Search

4. ^ 2007 IUCN Red List Search

5. ^ Exotic Wood penaga

6. ^ Mesua ferrea

7. ^ Pyinkado

8. ^ [1]

a b
9. ^ http://tropix.cirad.fr/asia/keledang.pdf

10. ^ http://www.woodcarving.com.np/images/saj.jpg

11. ^ Mango

12. ^ Dalbergia latifolia

13. ^ 2007 IUCN Red List Search

14. ^ Sal - Shorea robusta - Flora - Tree - Timber - Haryana Online - North India

15. ^ 2007 IUCN Red List Search

16. ^ Exotic Wood satinwood

17. ^ 2007 IUCN Red List Search

18. ^ Exotic Wood teak

19. ^ http://tropix.cirad.fr/asia/teak.pdf

a b
20. ^ Nrrpc-Wood Property Report On Camphor Laurel
 Last edited on 18 May 2017, at 07:28

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